Nesting

Upon the realization that this past weekend was the last free weekend before baby's here, I got a serious case of nesting. With so many tasks at hand I knew it was not going to be a nice, relaxing couple of days but on the other hand...I was hoping it would help me feel more "together".

Saturday the snow came. As soon as Josh woke up and saw what was outside he began jumping around with excitement. "Can I go out, mom?" "Can I go out in the snow, mom?" "Mom, how much longer till we can go outside?"

But of course as everyone and their neighbor was out clearing their driveways, I bundled the family up and forced them to run errands with me. I knew I wanted to get the nursery painted this weekend so our first stop was Home Depot, then lunch, and then Target.

As soon as we got home Lauren took a nap and Josh, Dustin and I went out and played in the snow!







I'm not sure who had more fun: Josh or Mattie. Mattie just ran and ran and ran. I was sitting in a patio chair remembering the warmer days of summer and Mattie had her face buried in the snow. As you can see by the video she is also not the smartest dog, but you can't help but smile when she runs around with Josh like she's just another kid in the family.

We took a break and warmed up for a bit and then Lauren woke up. So out we went again...this time with the Pink Monster!






It didn't take long and she was ready for a snack. Shocker. So her and I came inside and made the boys some hot cocoa while they played a little longer.



Then we met Larry and Toni for a dinner. We hadn't really sat down with them for awhile and it was nice to sort of "catch up". We went for Chinese and at the end of the meal we all got a customary fortune cookie.

Lauren's said, "You have an iron will."

Uh...ya think?

Sunday was work day. And by work day I mean, "Work Until I'm Laid Up With Contractions." More details on that to come.

Sunday we were busy. Christmas decorations and trees came down, laundry was done, all of Lauren's old clothes were sorted and organized by size and placed into tubs, Lauren's bedroom closet was cleaned out, her carpeting was steam cleaned, the entire house was vacuumed and picked up, the nursery was painted and somewhere in there the kids had baths and we ate two meals. I'm sure I'm forgetting something else but honestly, I don't want my doctor to read this and yell at me more.

Anyway, Lauren's room is cleaned, organized and adorable! She has so much room to play in and I smile every time I look in there because it's sooooo "little girlish". Hehehehehe.






Uh...don't mind the pile of nursery stuff on her little table. I forgot it was there until I just looked at the picture.

Other than that...isn't it adorable?!?!?!?

Obviously, by Sunday night I was wiped out. I know you won't believe this...but I ACTUALLY quit painting in the nursery and walked away because I didn't feel good. ME! Say I can't do something! Crazy, huh?

I got ready for bed and around 11:00 felt uneasy. By the time Dustin's alarm went off at 12:15 I still had not fallen asleep and the braxton hicks contractions were getting stronger. I got up and walked around for awhile, drank some water and laid back down. By 1:30 I started to panic. I knew they weren't regular but they were coming every 4-7 minutes and they were definitely painful. By 2:00 I called Dustin. He told me to call labor & delivery.

Me, being stubborn, didn't want to. I guess I feel more self-conscious about looking stupid than anything. I mean, this is my third. You'd think I'd know by now. But I didn't want to wake everyone up, trek down to the hospital for a few hours only to be told that I needed to have a glass of water.

Well, by 2:30 I was looking for a phone book to call the hospital. I walked around a little bit wondering if I should really do this and thought I'd give one last chance to a drink of water and a new resting position. By 3:00 they had gotten better and by 3:30/4:00 I must have fallen asleep.

A short night later it was time to get up. I got the kids ready and we all went on with our day but I noticed baby wasn't moving as much. I'm sure he/she was just exhausted. But by 11:30 I called my OB and they told me to come on in.

Everything was fine. We had a non-stress test and got to listen to the heartbeat for about 45 minutes. That was SO comforting. Dr. Hocking checked me and said my cervix was nice and tight - so for as uncomfortable as the contractions were...they were not "productive".

Basically, I over did it. I know that now. I'm naughty and you can each scold me like my father, my doctor and my husband already have. But you all know I'm not one to sit still - pregnant or not.

I did learn my lesson, though. I will try much harder to take it easy and remind myself that my body can only take so much.

On the upside, though...I feel much more comfortable with the shape my house is in. And given that tax season has already started and work is swamped, I enjoy coming home to a clean and organized house that much more!

Baby Update: 31 weeks

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt.He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Exhaustion

ex⋅haus⋅tion

Pronunciation [ig-zaws-chuhn]- noun
1. the act or process of exhausting.
2. the state of being exhausted.
3. extreme weakness or fatigue.
4. the total consumption of something: the exhaustion of your vacation benefits for the year.

Really...need I say more?

Since we found out Josh had strep throat on Thursday, Dustin stayed home with the kids on Friday so I could go into work.

By Friday night I was so sick to my stomach and suffering from such severe heart burn that I didn't get more than 3 hours of sleep.

Pop-pop and Joyce came into town (Round #5) on Saturday and because I still haven't found a camera that smacks me up aside the head when the battery is low...I have no pictures.

By Saturday night I was ready to crash but instead...we decided to begin assembling Lauren's "Big Girl Bed" around 8:00 at night. You'd think after the entire remodeling project in the basement we would have learned. After a million problems we finally finished around 10:15, which in "Bricker Project Time" is actually not that bad, I guess.

We moved Lauren into her new bed and she immediately fell back asleep. I went down to check on Josh and he was having issues with his tv. I asked what the heck he was still doing up and he just gave me a blank stare. So I spent the next 20 minutes fixing the satellite problem.

By 11:00 I headed back up to our bedroom and found Dustin snoozing away. I literally fell into bed.

At 11:30 Lauren started screaming. I jumped up, assuming by her scream, that either she had fallen off her new bed and broken her arm or she had fallen off her bed and cracked her head open.

What I found was a little girl pulling on her ears. Yeah, that's a familiar sign to any mother. I gave her some Tylenol and brought her into our room. She'd find a comfy position on my shoulder or cuddle in my arm and fall asleep for about 20 minutes at a time but then wake up crying again.

So by about 4:00 am I'd had about two hours of very uncomfortable and awkward sleep. The next time she woke up I pleaded with Dustin to hold her for awhile. I mean...I HAD taken care of her on my own for almost five hours and let him sleep. So...I thought it was the least he could do. But, no. He had to huff and puff and turn on all the lights in our bedroom because, I guess, if HE can't sleep...then NO ONE'S gonna sleep.

I'm just gonna let you think about that moment in time and imagine what was said. I'll give you a hint...it involved tears and was probably not the image of wedded bliss.

She finally fell back asleep and was up running around like nothing had happened by 6:15. I, however, was barely able to function.

As soon as 8:15 rolled around I asked Dustin to make an appointment for her at the pediatrician's office. I made breakfast for everyone (except myself), gathered the laundry and started a load. I came up to the kitchen and thought I'd make myself a bagel and as Dustin was eating his breakfast he said, "If you're going to make it down to Dr. Anderson's office by 9:40, you'd better get going."

I honestly don't know what saved him from impending death: my belief that murder is wrong or my lack of energy to actually do it.

Needless to say...he ended up taking her. And yes, she had a double ear infection.

By Sunday night I thought everyone would be tired enough to just fall right asleep.

That was very stupid of me.

Lauren had liked sleeping with mom and dad the night before and didn't want a thing to do with her "Big Girl Bed". By about 11:30 she had worn me down and I gave up and let her sleep with us. By 12:30, Dustin got up for work, moved her back to her room and was off to work.

Finally, I had the whole bed to myself and no screaming children. It was glorious.

Yeah...that lasted a whole 10 minutes because right at 1:00 Josh started screaming. I frantically ran downstairs to check on him. Yeah, he was hungry and wondered if he could just get up. Confused, I said, "Uh...have you not slept yet?"

Josh: **blank stare**
Me: God, you look like your father.
Josh: What?
Me: Nevermind. **Looking at his tv and realizing it's still on.**
Me: Have you not fallen asleep yet?
Josh: Um...no?
Me: JOSHUA!
Josh: What? I'm hungry and I was just wondering if I could get up and have some breakfast!
Me: GET UP TO MY ROOM AND GO TO BED!!!
Josh: Okay, mom.

So when my alarm went off at 5:55 this morning my body screamed, "NOOOOOO!!!!!"

I am beyond beat tonight. And since I've started writing this blog Josh has already fallen asleep on the couch next to me. Of course Lauren's wide awake...but I swear she runs off of batteries.

I am really hoping this isn't a sign of what more is to come and that 2009 is not the Chinese Year of the Sleep Deprived.

Happy New Year!!!!

It is oficially 2009 and my "fresh start" has been a little rocky!

First things first...my OB appointment:

I had my glucose test and basically you have to drink this sugary drink, wait an hour and have some blood drawn. So while I waited they had me see a nurse practioner for my appointment.

I went back to get weighed in and was happy to see I've gained a pound and a half! Then it pretty much feel to crap from there on out.

I had sugar and white blood cells in my urine and my blood pressure was up. Then they couldn't find the heart. One nurse practioner, two doppler machines, one doctor and one portable ultrasound machine later I was being rushed to the "fancy" ultrasound machines. I honestly wasn't paniced because I could feel him/her moving around (thanks to the sugar drink) but it appeared his/her heart was right underneath my belly button.

So we sat and waited to have one of the technicians come and get us for the big ultrasound. Then Dustin's phone rang...Lauren puked at daycare.

So as Dustin tried to find arrangements for Lauren I went off to ultrasound.

As soon as we got in the room the tech got started right away and found the heart beating away...right under my belly button! I guess I had some excessive scar tissue around my belly button from when I had gall bladder surgery after Josh was born and it was making it difficult to pick up with the doppler. It also didn't help that this little one is laying sideways (transverse). I guess he/she is on their way into the birthing position.

I told the tech that we haven't gotten any decent pictures of this little one and she said, "Well...let's see if we can rectify that!" She tried and tried and tried. And this little one is as stubborn as his/her big sister!

So...this is what we got.



Baby weighs 3 pounds, 2 ounces, the heart beat was 140 and he/she is measuring at 29 weeks, 5 days.

The lab had to come in during the middle of my ultrasound and draw blood because my hour was up. Even in the dark she only poked me once!! And just like with Lauren, my iron is low. I figured it was, because I've been feeling the same way I did the last time.

In summary, it was a chaotic visit but it is always fun to get a chance to see our baby moving around in there!

Other than that we had a pretty boring New Year's Eve. Dustin and I had all these plans of fun things to do with the kids and they were squashed because of two sick kids. So none of us saw midnight. In fact, I don't think any of us saw 8:30.

However, it was only the 1st of January and I already had first medical deduction for 2009: Josh has strep. I swear that kid gets strep EVERY time he gets sick! So while the rest of the world slept in from staying out too late the night before I sat in the pediatrician's office with Josh.

Ahh...the joys of motherhood.

Dad also requested I post the rest of our pictures from the famous "Christmas picture session". So here they are...





So, here's to a great 2009!! I can pretty much guarantee it will be as crazy as last year...you know, with the completion of our three ring circus and all. :-)

Many blessings to all in 2009!

Merry Christmas!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I missed my Monday night deadline. Sorry. But in my defense...it IS year-end and, thanks to my body growing abnormally large children, I am already having extreme difficulties sleeping.

Round #1

By the time we were ready to open our first round of presents Dustin and I were ready to tie down the kids. Their anticipation and excitement had been building for weeks and by the time we got home from church they were each quivering like a diabetic who's had too much sugar.

After a few formailities (i.e. pictures), we were just about ready. As a side note, my mother-in-law is not known for taking good photos. (She's well aware of the fact. Right, Toni?) So I'm not quite sure why I handed her my camera for our one and only family photo.



Oh well. I've just succumb to the fact that I will never have a nice photo of my family; whether that just be a few of us or together as a whole. Besides, if you look closely above Josh's right eye you can see a bald patch. Yes, he cut his own hair. And as punishment, I have resorted to calling him "Patch" for an entire week.

After some yummy food we unleashed the children.






Josh was thrilled to get a bike! He couldn't even wait long enough to take the tags off the helmet before he got all geared up. He was so busy trying to ride it around the house that it gave the rest of the adults some time to breathe and clean up.

As soon as we got home Josh wanted to check on Santa's location via the Internet. So Dustin put Lauren to bed and unloaded the car while Josh and I tracked down Santa. By the time we got home he was already in Florida and once I showed Josh where that was in relation to Iowa he bolted upstairs and got into his pajamas.

Dustin and I just about died laughing. He was so excited! I went in and kissed him goodnight, said our prayers and asked if he'd like me to turn on his tv. He said, "No, mom. I want Santa to come and I'll be asleep in 2 minutes!"

And by God...he was!!

Round #2

Dustin and I had stayed up late on Christmas Eve and wouldn't you know it...Santa came!!!




Lauren was the first one up and immediately began shouting, "MOMMY! MOMMY!" So it wasn't long and Josh was up, too.

You'd think that after being together for thirteen plus years Dustin would learn. But that man hadn't wrapped my present yet and made ME hold the children hostage on the stairs until he was finished. I swear some days I'd just like to smack him.

I should have let them loose and made it so he missed their excitement, if only to teach him a lesson. But as I've also learned...it's good to keep those sorts of things in a back pocket for future use.

As if anyone will be surprised, Josh was busy ripping apart his gifts and Lauren sat at the plate of cookies and ate until we told her it was time to open her gift from Santa.



Josh got his Leapster 2 and Lauren got her Bitty Baby. When she opened her gift and realized it was a baby she gasped and said, "A baby!" OMG. It was so cute! I just about started to cry!




Round #3

Mom, Titi and Joel came over in the afternoon so the kids were all warmed up for opening more gifts. Lauren received a bunch of items to use with her new baby and put them to good use within minutes.



And I got the best present ever....



My double stroller!!! Oh man, I cannot tell you how happy I was to open that puppy up! Lauren loves it and I kept pushing her and her new baby around the house in it. You can also tell by that last picture that Lauren received some headbands. However, she wanted to keep the tag on it. I'm guessing because it reminded her more of a tiara.

Do I have my hands full or what?

Round #4

Dad and Thomas came down for the weekend which meant that the kids had a day to "rest up" for Round #4.





We truly had a wonderful Christmas and hope everyone else did as well. Dustin was able to have quite a bit of time off of work and it was so nice to be together as a family for more than just a weekend.

We did get Josh's room moved this weekend so I am oficially in full-on decorating mode in order to get the nursery done before tax season starts. And as a little present to all who haven't seen me in awhile I have a belly pic.



There it is...in all my 28 week, 3 day glory.

Today is my last monthly doctor's appointment and now I will be going every 2 weeks. Doesn't seem possible. It is also my glucose test. Blech. Speaking of sugar intake...I'll be anxious to see if that pound of carmel a few weeks back kept me from losing any more weight this month!

Baby Update: 29 weeks

Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.

Join the club

For people who didn't get to see our Christmas card this year...let me share.



The majority of people who've seen it think it's hysterical and I've actually had some people call me just to tell me so. Over time I've accepted the fact that I didn't get the "perfect shot" and embraced the chance to show people what the Brickers are REALLY like.

Then this weekend I opened up the paper and got all the way to the comics and read Baby Blues.



I about died! I love, love, love that comic strip and each week I find further confirmation that my life is normal, my kids are normal and, dare I say, my husband is normal.

The rest of this weekend was filled with baking and cleaning.

Friday night I decided to, yet again, tackle the art of baking...and failed miserably. My baked good of choice was Zupfa. Dad used to make it all the time and it is not only a beautiful braided bread but it's also delicious. I dug through all my recipes and thought it was a sign from God that I should give it a whirl when I realized I had every ingredient in the house. Typically, if I were missing an ingredient I would walk right back out of the kitchen in order to avoid dragging the kids out to the store. Because honestly, no baked good is worth all that effort.

I obviously should have read the recipe more clearly because if I had...I would not have even attempted this particular venture to begin with. Seriously..."set it aside for 15 minutes", "let it rise 1 1/2 - 2 hours", "let it rise for an additional 45-50 minutes". Who has time to bake these days anyway?

I only had to call Dad twice, but even with his expert advice from Minneapolis, I was not able to save my bread from disaster. It is so ugly and the braiding is horrendous. I can't even muster the courage to taste the stuff. I did, however, throw the loaves in the freezer in the hopes that I can use them to give Dad a good laugh this weekend.

The sugar cookies on Saturday went much better; not because I'm learning, but because I had help from Betty Crocker. God, I love that woman.




Josh really did help and Lauren had more fun spinning the base to the mixer. Hey...whatever makes the girl happy, right?




Shortly after I finished cleaning up from cookies we realized it had started snowing so we took a moment to enjoy watching the snowflakes fall.



Sunday we worked in the basement. The entire remodeling project pretty much came to a screeching halt about 5 weeks ago and to see some progress was very encouraging.





I started steam cleaning the carpet tonight and hopefully by this weekend we should be able to get his room officially moved! He is so excited!! On Sunday, Dustin and I just looked around and reveled in our accomplishment for a few moments. And even now looking at the pictures I can't believe we DID that! It has been, by far, the most complicated project we've ever taken on...and I believe once we finish everything...the last.

We also decorated our cookies for Santa on Sunday!






Of course after we decorated all of them...we had to have a quick taste testing! Lauren pretty much just sucked and licked the frosting off her cookie and Mattie patiently waited for Lauren to throw her whatever was left.




And while they were delicious...I will need to warn Santa in our letter on Christmas Eve so that he doesn't crack a tooth on some of the candies. Yowzer!

Baby Update: 28 weeks

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open and close her eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before she's batting those beauties at you.

It is almost impossible for me to believe that Christmas is merely hours away. We are anticipating a very fun Christmas with the children and Dustin and I are as excited to watch the children open their presents as they are to open them.

More importantly, we want to wish all of our readers a blessed Christmas! We pray you have safe travels, joyful times with loved ones and the opportunity to take a moment and reflect on the reason for the season:

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” - Luke 2:8-11

Merry Christmas!

And the Grand Finale of the 2008 Camping Season

As I continue my quest to receive a "Mother of the Year" award, I have again failed for 2008.

Thursday night was Josh's Christmas Program at daycare. Of course, Dustin had to work so he was unable to get to see the actual program and, more importantly, I had no help getting them both ready.

So, I got the kids fed and dressed and over to the church. Josh was all excited and finally, after all these years, I am no longer filled with worry that he'll clam up and burst into tears in the middle of the program. The kids began to file in and as soon as Joshie turned the corner and saw me sitting there he just beamed. God...I love that. As a mom, heck as a human being, there is no better feeling than having someone smile at the sight of you. Warms the heart, most definitely.

So imagine it...there I am sitting in the pew anxiously awaiting my son's performance, my daughter standing and screaming "Joshie" through all the other performances and me wishing my husband was there to see it. Then the time comes. It's Josh's turn. He files up onto stage and finds his spot. I grab a quick picture...



Then they start to sing. I switch my camera to grab a video...



THEN BAM!!!! Camera dies.

WTH?!?!?!?

I was devastated. Not only for my blog (of course)...but for my husband. Between my hormones, watching my son sing his little heart out and disappointment for my husband it took every ounce of me to keep smiling at Josh and not fall into a puddle of tears. Guess I need to pay more attention to my battery charge and less about how my kids look.

Friday I took off of work at noon and did a little last minute shopping! I rocked it...BIG TIME! You know when a really good sale, meets finding EXACTLY what you're looking for, meets shopping without your kids?!?!? It's like the Bermuda Triangle of shopping trips. Well...I had it on Friday! It was glorious. All 1 hour and 49 minutes of it!

But by Friday night...I was wiped. So instead of waiting for the kids to go to sleep to start my wrapping, I put the kids in Josh's room and told them they could watch a video together. They didn't have a clue what was going on downstairs and they had a blast!



Lucky for me because I only had to stay up till 11:00 before I finished my wrapping!

Saturday morning we went and saw Santa. And while this was not nearly as severe as our Christmas card, Lauren continued her streak of crappy pictures.


Whatever. The girl is a diva. What can I say?

And just like our experience at the merry-go-round immediately following their Christmas picture session, before I had even finished paying she was dancing around the water fountain at the mall performing for all the old people on the benches.

I swear she hates me.

Immediately after that we headed off to pick mom up at church and take her down to the Amana's for her birthday. All I can say is, "Bring on the cottage cheese, bring on the Chicken Schnitzel and bring on the Banana Cream Pie...cuz Mama's hungry!" Honestly, I have not eaten like that in months! Thank God I had on maternity jeans! Holy fatness!

Of course, my daughter did her fair share of eating, too. But does that really surprise anyone?



And as if that wasn't enough, I walked my wobbly butt down to the Chocolate House and bought myself a pound of Carmel. I know what you're thinking..."Oh Beth, I'm sure you shared some of it." Uh...no, I did not. Do you not know me at all? And not only did I not share any of it...but as of last night there wasn't any of it left. So there! **blows a raspberry**

By God, I will finally have gained some weight for my next OB appointment! I will also be diabetic...but whatever. :-)

Then Sunday. Dear God...what a day.

It started off normal. We got up, went to church (as a side note...how much do I love Advent hymns? SO MUCH!) and went out for breakfast. It was unseasonably warm and Dustin thought it would be a good day to take the camper down to the timber for the winter. So I started laundry and got the kids ready while Dustin hooked up to the camper.

We got down there and realized almost immediately that turning the camper around in the limited space of the clearing was not going to be an easy task. So me, being the designated traffic controller, hopped out and did my best at guiding Dustin through the mess of obstacles. Seriously, we had to turn that thing around without hitting two trailers, several trees, a well, a large stump, a shed filled with cut wood and a Morton building. I mean, come on!

There I was standing in the middle of a clearing, yelling directions at my husband and what happened? Well, what happens EVERY time we set up? IT STARTS TO RAIN!!! Honestly, I started laughing. It's freakin' December 14th and it's raining!!! Dustin slammed it into park and got out of the truck just to join me in laughter. What are the odds?

Back to our task.

He hopped back in the truck and realized that our plan wasn't going to work. It was about that time we realized we were stuck. Couldn't go forward, couldn't go backward, couldn't move...and the camper was blocking our only exit.

I headed towards one of the trees and all of a sudden I heard a SCCREEEACCHH!! Not good. Dustin darted out of the truck and yelled a not so nice word. I went running and immediately began crying. We were in a serious pickle, the kids were screaming to get out of the truck and now the camper was damaged. What else could happen, right?

So I started walking towards the Morton building to get a different view of our situation and sssllliippp!

BAM! Me down on the ice...right on my belly. Dustin ran over to help me up and I immediately started to cry again only this time with contractions.

So there I stood....crying, having contractions, covered in mud, in the rain with no way of getting to a hospital and no cell phone reception. I had had enough.

It just went down hill from there...the four wheelers wouldn't start, the temp dropped, the rain turned to sleet, the kids got sick and tired of sitting in the truck, my contractions continued and if I had had a can of lighter fluid I would have just set the stupid camper aflame.

We finally got it turned around and parked in the Morton building but by the time we got back on the road to head home the roads were ice covered and the ride home was very stressful.

If the roads were better I would have made Dustin take me straight to the hospital but honestly, I just wanted to get home. I didn't sleep much last night because I was pretty sore from the fall and paranoid about Baby's lack of movement. But today seems to be a bit more normal so I'll continue to take it easy and call the doctor if I get concerned.

Needless to say...I could do without another day like that.

Baby Update: 27 weeks

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

A sweet story:

A few weeks back we were down in the family room watching TV and Josh asked if he could color a picture. I got him a piece of paper and he ran and got his crayons. He worked for a good 20 minutes and ran to show me his finished project.



Our entire family: Dustin, me, Lauren, Josh, Mattie (with green leash and all) and baby...."coming down from heaven". Like that wouldn't make any mother cry. I have a saying on Lauren's wall that says, "Heaven's Gift" and I always tell Josh that God gave him to me. It was just so sweet how he interpreted what I've told him all these years...and I had to share.